003_abutment : Automatic Device Linking (Abutment)

Minimum Required Version: Expert 4.10.39.R

Device link improves the efficiency of layout design of CMOS logic circuits. By overlapping diffusion areas of MOSFET parameterized cells (PCells) that have a common net name, the PCells are automatically aligned and linked to each other.

It also recognizes whether an external connection exists from the connected pin and, if possible, can omit the diffusion contacts to minimize the spacing between the pair of gate regions.

In order to use the device link, a net name should be assigned to each pin on a MOSFET cell, as when it is supposed to be used within the schematic driven layout. Also, since the shapes of the diffusion area and contacts are controlled via PCell parameters, the MOSFET cell should be prepared as a PCell.

In addition, the device link requires a callback function written in LISA or JavaScript to control those PCell parameters. When multiple PCell instances are overlapped, or the Tools->Device Link->Link command is executed, this callback function is executed automatically so that each of the PCell parameters for the linked PCell instances is set.

The actual operation steps are as follows:

Start Expert and select Tools->Script->Script Panel to open the XI script panel.

Select File->Open in the XI script panel to load a sample XI script editing_ex03.xisand run it. It defines the callback function for the device link (see 1_script_panel.png
).

Select File->Open in the Expert main window to load a project file exp_example_05.eld, and open the top cell NAND3.

Open the Edit page in the dialog, check the Automatic Device Linking checkbox, and click OK to close the dialog (see 3_setup_dialog.png
).

Select a PCell instance of the cell CMOSP, which is placed in the middle of the upper row.

Select Edit->Move to start moving the selected instance.

Click the right mouse button twice to rotate it by 180 degrees. As a result, a pair of pins on the diffusion areas sharing a same net name will face each other.

Place the selected instance in order that the diffusion areas are overlapped with each other. The overlapped instances will be linked to each other automatically (see 4_link_cmosp.png
).

Link the remaining instance at the right side as well.

Repeat the same operations for CMOSN PCell instances in the lower row.

Since some of the connected pins don't have any external connections,s the contact objects between gates will be deleted, and the spacing between the gates will be minimized as defined in advance (see 5_link_cmosn.png
).

These examples are for reference only. Every software package contains a full set of examples suitable for that version and are installed with the software. If you see examples here that are not in your installation
you should consider updating to a later version of the software.